Sleeping with the Enemy/Dying Young 2-Pack

SLEEPING WITH THE ENEMY: Laura (Julia Roberts) and Martin (Patrick Bergen) have the appearance of a perfect marriage, but shortly into the film it becomes apparent that Laura's presence in their opulent home and decadent lifestyle is as decoration and servant. Moreover, Martin is obsessive, anally clean and ruling tyrannically over his wife; she lives in fear of the brutal punishment that descends when the canned goods are imperfectly lined up or the towels hang unevenly. Through an elaborate plan, Laura stages her own death and escapes to start anew in a small Iowa town, where her next door neighbor's efforts at friendship and burgeoning love slowly chip away at her armor of distrust. But just as Laura begins to relax into her new existence, her past resurfaces in a chilling climax.

DYING YOUNG: A simple romance that nonetheless carries a great deal of emotional impact, DYING YOUNG tells the story of Hilary O'Neil, an attractive young woman who, upon discovering her live-in boyfriend in bed with another woman, must move out and find a new job. She accepts a position as the in-house caretaker of Victor Geddes (Campbell Scott), a wealthy young man who is suffering from blood cancer. Hilary's first experiences of the aftereffects of chemotherapy leave her in doubt as to whether she can handle the job, but Victor convinces her to stay, as he is beginning to see in her a reason to live. When Victor informs her that his chemo has been successfully completed, they move to a secluded home to start a life together, until cancer once again intrudes. The film is rich in its portrayal of the hardships inflicted by cancer patients and their loved ones, as well as the power of love to lend strength to endure.